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Vote Jane Campbell for US Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year
Georgia Soccer's own Girls ODP player Jane Campbell is has been named a nominee for the 2012 US Soccer Young Female Athlete of the year award. The winner of the award will be announced Monday, December 3 on US Soccer's Facebook page. In the current voting, Jane is behind 28% to 32%. It is time for the Georgia Soccer family to step up and vote her in for the recognition she deserves! Emory women's soccer team heads for national semifinals
Atlanta’s MLS hope may rest on new stadium
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said Atlanta’s hopes of one day getting an expansion franchise rest on a new stadium. Talking to reporters during a “state of the league” call on Monday ahead of Saturday’s championship game between Los Angeles and Houston, Garber said he and Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who in the past expressed an interest in starting a team in Atlanta, have had several discussions recently about the league, soccer and the city.
Right now, Garber said there’s simply no place for a team to play.
“The Falcons are looking to replace the Georgia Dome, so we wouldn’t want to play there,” Garber said. “There isn’t a college facility that makes sense. We respect what the Silverbacks have done, but that facility would be too small.
“What we’ve been focused on is should the public sector and private sector in Atlanta come together and get a new facility for the Falcons, it would allow us to continue our discussions …”
Garber is watching the ongoing debate about the possibility of constructing a new billion-dollar stadium for the Falcons with interest.
The MLS has 19 teams, but doesn’t have one in the Southeast. Garber has said his can’t be a national league until it has a team in every region.
One of the holdups in Atlanta is the lack of a suitable stadium. The Georgia Dome has hosted soccer events, but natural grass was installed for those games — an expensive proposal considering MLS teams host 17 games during the regular season, as well as exhibition games and friendlies.
The proposed new stadium will be designed to accommodate soccer, regardless of whether Blank owns a possible MLS team.
MLS has no requirements for stadium size or configuration. The league has soccer-specific stadiums, including new ones in Houston ($95 million) and Kansas City ($200 million), a team that plays in an open-air NFL stadium, Seattle, and a team that plays in a stadium with a retractable roof and synthetic grass, Vancouver.
The only requirement MLS has for stadiums is that the team’s ownership controls the venue and that they have a comprehensive plan. Blank and the Falcons may satisfy that guideline because they would pay a percentage of the stadium’s cost in what is being dubbed as a public-private project. Soccer isn’t needed to make the new stadium work financially, but it would be another revenue stream.
The Falcons hope the stadium would open in 2017, which could work with Major League Soccer’s nebulous expansion timeline.
The league is currently on the adding a 20th team in New York. The league has no specific plans to expand beyond 20 teams, but has had exploratory discussions with several cities in the Southeast, including Orlando and Miami.
MLS seems to be flourishing in the U.S. The league recently broke the 6-million mark for the first time, an increase of almost 2 million since 2010, according to mlsattendance.blogspot.com. Average attendance for games was 18,801. By comparison, the Hawks averaged 15,199 fans in 33 home games last year.
– Doug Roberson, AJC
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SOCCER SIX TOURNAMENT SERIES
FROST BITE CUP
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December 15 & 16 - The 10th Annual FROST BITE CUP
Join us in Savannah, GA for our annual pre-holiday tournament at The Chatham Soccer Complex. Get that soccer road trip in now before the holidays. Frost Bite weekend is always fun with competitive soccer during the day and good times downtown during the evenings. Stay downtown at the Inn at Ellis Square for just $79 a night. Register before 12/7 and pay only $275 January 19-20, 2013 - The 2013 Soccer Six Winter Nationals Bear Foot Sports and The Claire Chapin Epps YMCA of Myrtle Beach, would like to invite your team to participate in the 8th Annaul Soccer Six Winter Nationals. The adult 6v6 soccer tournament is played at The Grand Soccer Park at Market Commons in Myrtle Beach. Market Commons is a place where you can experience exceptional shopping, dining and soccer in a beautifully-designed village setting. Discount Rates are available at Compass Cove Beach Resort. Standard Rooms are $56.95 / Double Suites $66.45 / 3 Bedroom Condos are only $109.20 The tournament is expected to feature over 30 adult teams from across the US and Canada. Soccer Six Tournaments are fun and exciting they include discount accomadations, three-game guarantee, playoffs and a players' party. The adult 6v6 tournaments are open to all mens, womens and co-ed soccer teams. 2013 SOCCER SIX CALENDAR OF EVENTS REGISTER YOUR TEAM TODAY ! The Soccer Six Tournament Series is produced by Bear Foot Sports, organizing professionally managed soccer tournaments for over 20 years. For additional information please call 843/757-8520 or visit us on line athttp://www.bearfootsports.com/ |
Atlanta Silverbacks on the hunt for new soccer talent
As an indicator of just how seriously the Silverbacks are looking at the new season they are holding combine events outside of the state. With one in California and one in England, the Silverbacks are determined to find some good talent to supplement the players already on the roster.
Silverbacks Head Coach, Brian Haynes, and Eric Wynalda, advisor to the Silverbacks, will attend each of the U.S based combines to evaluate any players while Coach Haynes will work with several European based soccer organizations to assess the talent at the combine in England.
Joe Nasco, Silverbacks goalkeeper, was found in a talent combine last year
Photo credit:
Photography by Andrew Snook
The actual locations and dates of the combines are:
December 7-9 at Accrington and Rossendale College (Lancashire, England)
December 13-14 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park (Atlanta, GA)
January 5-6 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park (Atlanta, GA)
January 26-27 at Newbury Park High School (Thousand Oaks, CA)
December 7-9 at Accrington and Rossendale College (Lancashire, England)
December 13-14 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park (Atlanta, GA)
January 5-6 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park (Atlanta, GA)
January 26-27 at Newbury Park High School (Thousand Oaks, CA)
This is not a new initiative for the Silverbacks. Over the last two years they have identified some great talent including current Silverbacks goalkeeper, Joe Nasco.
Interested players should be at least 18 years old and should go to the Silverbacks website for more information about registration.
register for both 2013 winter season and the 2013 Fat Tuesday Classic Tournament
Info
2013 Blizzard Blast
Registration Deadline January 10th - $100.00 deposit required to register
Start date January 13
6 weeks and a play off
7v7 playing format
40 minute halves
$450.00 per team
Unlimited Player Roster
Divisions -
NASA - Men's Open & Over 30
YMCA - Women's & Coed
2013 Fat Tuesday Classic
Registration Deadline February 1st, 2013
February 9 & 10, 2013
7v7 playing format
35 minute games
3 games Guaranteed
$450.00 per team
10 Player Roster ( 12 for Coed teams)
Divisions -
Men's - Open Competitive - Open Recreational - Over 30 & Over 40
Women's - Open Competitive - Open Recreational - Over 30
Coed - Open Competitive - Open Recreational - Over 30
Cobb Adult Soccer League
North Atlanta Soccer Association
Cobb YMCA
http://www.cobbsoccer.org
Info
2013 Blizzard Blast
Registration Deadline January 10th - $100.00 deposit required to register
Start date January 13
6 weeks and a play off
7v7 playing format
40 minute halves
$450.00 per team
Unlimited Player Roster
Divisions -
NASA - Men's Open & Over 30
YMCA - Women's & Coed
2013 Fat Tuesday Classic
Registration Deadline February 1st, 2013
February 9 & 10, 2013
7v7 playing format
35 minute games
3 games Guaranteed
$450.00 per team
10 Player Roster ( 12 for Coed teams)
Divisions -
Men's - Open Competitive - Open Recreational - Over 30 & Over 40
Women's - Open Competitive - Open Recreational - Over 30
Coed - Open Competitive - Open Recreational - Over 30
Cobb Adult Soccer League
North Atlanta Soccer Association
Cobb YMCA
http://www.cobbsoccer.org
NCAA Men's College Cup 10% Off to Georgia Soccer Members
Hoover, Ala. (November 15) –Tickets for the 2012 NCAA Men’s College Cup – Division I Soccer National Championship - being played on Dec. 7 and 9 at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala., are on sale.
This marks the second year the championship has been held at Regions Park. All session tickets for both semifinals and the national championship game are $35, while single day passes are available for $20. A hospitality upgrade is also available. Fans can purchase tickets by visitingwww.collegecupsoccer.com.
“Last year’s College Cup was an exciting competition for the fans,” said Mike Getman, head coach of the UAB men’s soccer team. “We were extremely pleased with the support from the strong soccer community in the Hoover/Birmingham area and we hope to have another great turnout this year to see the best soccer in the country.”
“We had a tremendous crowd last year with record-setting attendance for the two-day championship,” stated Gene Hallman, Executive Director of the Alabama Sports Foundation. “We had fans come in from all over the country to watch the best teams play in an exciting championship game right in our backyard. With all of the ancillary events surrounding the championship game, this will prove to be another fun weekend for the fans.”
Last year’s Men’s College Cup brought heavy hitters UCLA, Charlotte, North Carolina and Creighton to Hoover to compete for the national title. In an exciting final game, North Carolina was crowned the 2011 national champion. Regions Park hosted 18,400 fans for the first Men’s College Cup hosted in the deep south.
For more information on NCAA men’s soccer, visit NCAA.com/soccer.
Rec Teams Cap Season at Georgia Kohl's American Cup
OVER 1900 PLAYERS TAKE THE FIELD AT THE GEORGIA KOHL’S AMERICAN CUP
The Georgia Kohl’s American Cup, for recreational teams only, was held November 10-11 at McCurry Park North and South in Fayetteville, Tyus/Cowan Park in Griffin and OC Hubert Park in Acworth, GA.
The event is part of the Kohl’s US Youth Soccer American Cup, the largest recreational youth soccer tournament in the United States. More than 138 teams played tournament with Divisions for u10 through u19 boys and girls. This was the 8th year that Georgia has hosted the event.
In addition to a weekend of excellent weather and lots of good soccer, each team received lots of tournament goodies including a Chipotle game ball, Publix string bags for every player, Chipotle coupons for free food, Kohl’s wrist bands and lanyards, a ball bag and coach’s clipboard and more.
The Kohl’s American Cup offers youth soccer players an opportunity to play in a high-quality tournament with a fun, competitive and family-like atmosphere. The program was started by US Youth Soccer as an avenue to highlight recreational soccer players and promote fair play. Players receive equal opportunities and benefits within their own level with an emphasis on participation, fair play and balanced competition.
2012 Georgia Kohl’s American Cup Champions and Finalists:
| Under 10 Girls Red | Champion: JBS U10 Girls | Finalist: SSA Chivas USA |
| Under 10 Boys Red | Champion: Cobb YMCA Pumas | Finalist: SSA Toronto |
| Under 12 Girls Red | Champion: Shooting Stars Columbus | Finalist: JBS U12 Shockers Nation |
| Under 12 Girls White | Champion: PTC Wildcats | Finalist: GSA Soccer Chicks |
| Under 12 Girls Blue | Champion: Tyrone Panthers | Finalist: Lamar Lady Blaze |
| Under 12 Boys Red | Champion: South Cobb Y Brazil | Finalist: Georgia FC Barcelona |
| Under 12 Boys White | Champion: FCYSL Predators | Fianlist: NASA Man. United |
| Under 12 Boys Blue | Champion: Tyrone Freeze | Finalist: AYSA Nightmare |
| Under 14 Girls Red | Champion: Amazons 14 | Finalist: SCUFC Fury |
| Under 14 Girls White | Champion:TSC Pearls | Finalist: Dacula Strykers |
| Under 14 Boys Red | Champion: SSA Carrolton | Finalist: Stockbridge United U14 Boys |
| Under 14 Boys White | Champion: Effingham United 99 | Finalist: Cobb YMCA FC National |
| Under 16 Girls Red | Champion: Columbus Wildcats | Finalist: PTCYSA Impact |
| Under 16 Girls White | Champion: SSA Impact | Finalist: AFU Angels |
| Under 16 Boys Red | Champion: Hentry Co. Southpoint Utd. | Finalist: PTC Manchester United |
| Under 19 Girls Red | Champion: Smyrna Lady Panthers | Finalist: PTCYSA Strikers |
| Under 19 Boys Red | Champion: Columbus United | Finalist: SSA Central U19 Sounders |
| Under 19 Boys White | Champion: Jackson FC | Finalist: NASA Wings |
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German Street Cup unites Atlanta youth
The fourth edition of the German Street Cup was held on November 18th at the Atlanta International School. This annual community soccer tournament is held by Soccer in the Streets in partnership with the German Consulate General Atlanta and the German Cultural Center (Goethe Zentrum Atlanta).
Turnout increased from previous years, with nearly 50 participants. These participants were divided into the Junior (U11) and Senior (U16) divisions. Each team was required to have at least one German speaking player. Each player was given an official German Street Cup t-shirt and placed on a team. Teams were assigned so as to give each player an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
In the Senior Division the teams were Bayern Munich (Peach), FC Barcelona (Red), Manchester United (Blue), and Real Madrid (Green). The Junior Division decided to stick with the classic Blue, Green, and Red team monikers. Teams played two 10 minute periods (separated by a brief halftime) to determine who would be crowned German Street Cup Champions at the end of the day.
Initial hesitance and shyness waned and was replaced with chemistry as the first games of the afternoon kicked off. Parents eagerly looked on from the stands as their children starred on the fields as games were played. On Field 1, frustration set in for Real Madrid as failure to communicate lead to a disappointing loss to FC Barcelona. Meanwhile on the adjacent field, there was a barnburner between Bayern Munich and Manchester United, with United narrowly escaping in an 8-7 thriller. On the U11 field, Green and Blue started with the first match in the Junior Division. While the Blue team got off to a hot start, the Green team exhibited poise beyond their years with excellent crosses and stellar defense to come away with the victory.
At the end of the day, Manchester United emerged victorious from the Senior Division; while the Green team took top honors in the Junior Division. At the end of the day sportsmanship reigned supreme, as Real Madrid (Green) from the Senior Division and the Blue team of the Junior Division were honored with the Fair Play Award. The Champions along with the Fair Play Award winners all received trophies as well as authentic German National Team gear. As the festivities drew to a conclusion, all in attendance said that the German Street Cup was extremely enjoyable and “a success!” or as they say in German,“Ein Erfolg!”
by Andrew Asemota
Community Votes to Keep Silverbacks Name
Fans rallied behind the decision Thursday at a party at Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Atlanta.
After thousands of votes and plenty of deliberation among the city’s soccer fans, the name of Atlanta’s professional soccer team will remain the Silverbacks. The Silverbacks name received the most votes during the club’s recent “Decision 2012” campaign, with the verdict being announced Thursday night in front of a packed house at the Hard Rock Café in downtown Atlanta.
“While the results ended up being very close, the fans have voted in favor of the Silverbacks,” said Silverbacks General Manager Andy Smith. “That’s really what this campaign was all about – getting the community involved and giving them the power to choose the direction of our professional team. The fans are the ones that keep us going, so allowing them to take part in such a big decision was really important to us.”
The campaign lasted for nearly two months, and it included three other voting options besides the Silverbacks name. Fans could vote for the Atlanta Chiefs, the name of the city’s first ever professional soccer team, Atlanta FC, a more European-style name, or they could write in a name of their own choosing.
The Hard Rock Café in downtown was packed with fans, sponsors, and media – many of whom placed their votes at some point during the campaign. Former U.S. Men’s National Team star and current Silverbacks Team Advisor Eric Wynalda served as the emcee, setting up the name announcement, which came from Chairman Boris Jerkunica.
Jerkunica also introduced the club’s next offseason initiative, a logo design contest. Going along with the fan-friendly theme of the offseason, the club will accept logo design entries from fans over the course of the next two weeks. The entries will be posted on the club’s Facebook page, and at the end of the two-week period, the logo with the most “likes” will move on to a final round.
In the final round, the most popular fan logo will be pitted against the team’s current logo and a logo that the club will have designed in the coming weeks. Full contest rules and details will be posted to the club’s website, atlantasilverbacks.com, by noon on Friday.
Following up an impressive run on the field at the tail end of the 2012 NASL season, the Silverbacks are experiencing success off the field as well. The club is already very close to reaching last year’s season ticket and sponsorship totals, meaning the Silverbacks are off to an encouraging start as they prepare for the 2013 season.
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